To some, Troy Ermish may appear to be a mild-mannered automotive repair business owner in Fremont. However, there's another side to him that craves the need for speed. That's no surprise though, as racing cars is basically in his blood.

Growing up in Seattle, Troy gained a love for racing from watching his father, who competitively drove drag-racing cars for nearly 20 years. So almost from the time he was able to drive, Troy has been pursuing his passion for the sport.

To start, he began at the club racing level in 1991, driving Datsun 510s. However in 1998 he made the jump to the Stock Car Racing League (SRL), Southwest Tour Series, where he is currently still competing.

For the 2008 season, Troy is presently fourth in the point standings with two races to go. The next event takes place on September 27th at the Altamont Sports Park, in Tracy, CA. The highlight of Troy's season came in the opening race at Roseville's All American Speedway, where Troy took the checkered flag with a dominating win.

The SRL Southwest Tour Series consists of approximately 10 races in locales ranging from Roseville, CA all the way down to Las Vegas, NV. A typical race lasts 100 laps and speeds can reach up to 145 miles an hour depending on the track.

While there is no doubt that high-speed racing is dangerous, Troy has been able to avoid any major injuries throughout his career. While he has had his fair share of wrecks and accidents, he credits the improvement of standardized safety equipment that helps prevent any potential tragedies.

Some of the challenges that Troy has encountered in his racing career include finding the right mix of support personnel in the Bay Area, which is not exactly a hotbed of professional racing talent. The other major challenge is being able to finance a racing career, which can be a tremendous drain with all the resources needed to be successful. However, over the past few years, Troy has been able to acquire some top-notch sponsors such as Allied Auto Parts in Fremont, a local Super Cuts chain, and Alfred Matthews Pontiac GMC.

Looking toward the future, Troy is tentatively scheduled to make the jump to the next level of competition in 2009. That will consist of five races in the NASCAR-sanctioned Grand National West Series. Depending on the success he encounters there, that will dictate where he goes next in his quest for greater racing challenges.

For more information on Troy, you can visit his website at: www.ermish-racing.com. For more information about the Stock Car Racing League's Southwest Series, check out: www.srllatemodels.com.